Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman addresses an iftar party hosted to honour students scarred by the July Uprising at Sena Malancha on Sunday. – ISPR Photo
Under the glow of an iftar tent at Dhaka Cantonment’s Sena Malancha, General Waker-uz-Zaman, Bangladesh’s Army Chief, made it personal. “Don’t lose heart,” he told students scarred by the July Uprising. “You’re the nation’s kids—your sacrifice runs deep. We’re here for you, always.”

Sunday evening was not just about breaking bread—it was about mending spirits. The army rolled out an iftar and dinner to honour those battered in last year’s mass uprising.

General Waker-uz-Zaman mingled, swapping Eid greetings, checking in on the wounded—some still bandaged, all resolute. “I salute you,” he said, voice steady with pride. “Your grit built this moment.” Senior officers, civilians, and hospital directors joined the students, a crowd stitched by shared respect.

The Army Chief laid out the numbers: 4,215 injured got care at Combined Military Hospitals (CMHs) nationwide—989 patched up with surgeries, 39 still healing at Dhaka CMH. Cash has flowed too, from DGFI, SSF, bankers, and the army itself. “We’re not stopping,” he vowed, promising ongoing aid. As the night wound down, Eid gifts landed in students’ hands—a small token, a big nod.